Ratchet jack



March 31, 1931. F. 1.. GORMLEY RATGHE'T JACK Filed March 31, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATES FRANK L. GORMLEY, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BUIJA COMPANY, i

PATENT OFFICE j HARVEY. ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF "ILLINOIS RATCHETJACK Application filed March 81, 1928. Serial No. 266,309.

This object is attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyindrawings.

For the purpose of illustratlng the invention, one preferred formthereof is illustrated in the drawings, this form having been found togive satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understoodthat the various instrnmentalities of which the invention con sists canbe variously arranged and organized,

and the invention is not limited to the pre clse arrangement andorganlzation of these instrumentalities as herein shown and describedexcept as required by the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 represents a vertical section of lifting ackembodying the principles of the present invention, the cutting planebeing on line 1, 1, on Fig.

Figure 2 represents a transverse section of same on line 2, 2, on Fig.1.

Figure 3 represents a partial transverse sec tion showing the liftingand holding pawls interlocked. s

' Figure 4 represents an elevation of the lifting pawl, and s y Figure 5represents an elevation of the holding pawl.

Similar characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures ofthe drawings. In the drawings, is a hollow easing extending upwardlyfrom a base 11, the upper end of this casing having handle 12 projectingtherefrom by which the jack may be carried from place to place.

The casing walls have various openings therein through which the variousmovable elements of the jack may be assembled.

This casing 10 is provided at the top with a square bearing 13through'whioh extends the ram or rack 14 having on oneside thereof aplurality of teeth 15. i

This ram or rack 14 has secured to its upper end a supportifig head 16and at its lower end has projecting therefrom another supporting member17. Either the head 16 or projection 17 may be used to support a load.

The projecting member 17 extends through a slot 18 in one side Wall 19of the casing 10.

The ram 14 contacts with the inner face of this wall 19 as itreciprocates endwise therein, the teeth being free from contact with theopposite wall 20. t y t The ram 14 may be inserted through the opening21 in the base 11 and after such insertion the head 16 is securedthereto by means of the pin 22. i

The side walls of the casing 10 have openings therein to receive theoppositely disposed cup-shaped members 23 held in the side walls ofcasinglO by set screws 23a).

Disposed within these cup-shaped members 23 are trunnions 24 projectingfrom the opposite sides of a lever 25 adapted to receive an actuatinglever, not shown.

The inner faces of the side walls of casing 10 are cut away at 24mforming grooves through which the trunnions 24 may be moved intoposition so that the cup-shaped members 23 may be disposed over the endsthereof andform bearings therefor.

The inner end of this lever 25 is provided with a semibylindrical seat26 to receive the cylindrical end 27 of a lifting pawl 28and said innerend is cut away at one side thereof as at 2600 to permit the insertionof the pawl 28 from one side of the lever 25 with its cylindrical end27disposed in its seat 26.

The seat 26 on the opposite side of the lever 25 is cylindrical with noslot 26w extending therefrom. I

The pawl 28 is provided with a plurality of teeth 29 adapted to engagethe teeth 15 of the ram or rack 14.

Near the upper end of the casing 10 is disposed another pair ofcup-shaped members 30 to receive the trunnions 31 formedupon a holdingpawl 32, the lower end of which has formed thereon a plurality of teeth33 adapted to engage the teeth 15 of the ram or rack 14.

The inner faces of the side walls of casing 10 are cut away at 3100 topermit the proper positioning of the trunnions 31 after which thecup-shaped members are placed over the ends of said trunnions 31 andform bearings therefor.

The cup-shaped members are held in position by the set screws 3000.

The cup-shaped members 23, 30 are each provided with a threaded openingin which is disposed a closure 34 which may be removed in order to admitlubricant to the trunnions 24, 31.

The holding pawl 32 is. provided. with an extension 35 having in thelower end thereof a, notch 36 adapted to'receive the upper end of thelifting pawl 28 under certain conditions which will be hereinafterdescribed;

The lifting pawl 28 has on one side thereof an extension 37 by which thesaid pawl may be moved about its pivot to bring the upper end of saidpawl into the notch 36.

This pawl 28 is also provided with side extensions 38, 3800 which coactwith the side faces of the ram or rack 14 to prevent displacement. ofthe pawl 28 under all conditions.

The upper end of the holding-pawl 32 is bi.- furcated and straddles therack 14 thus preventing any side movement of the paw-L To one side wallof the casing 10 is secured a headed stud 39 about which. is coiled aspring 40.

One end of; this spring 40 coacts with the side extension 3800 while theopposite end of the said spring coacts with a headed projection 41 onone side of the holding pawl 32, the tension of. said spring being suchas: to cause the ends thereof to spring away from each other.

The same spring, therefore, retains under normal conditions the teeth ofboth the lift-- ing pawl 28v and the holding pawl, 32' in engagementwith the teeth 15 of the ram or rack, 14. a V

The lever 25 is provided with a downward projection 42 which is adaptedto engage a shoulder43 on the casing-1O to limit the downwardmovement;of said lever.

lfVhen the lever 25 is moved downwardly the lifting pawl will raise theram or: rack 14, the holding pawl 32 being forced outwardly. from.engagement with the rack teeth l5jagainst-the tension ofthe spring 40,while L the rack-teeth 15 are passing the teeth 33-of holding pawl 32.As soon as the lever 25- is moved in the opposite direction the spring40 will force the holding pawlteeth 33 into engagement with the rackteethl5 and retain the rack 14 init-s elevated, position.

This is of; considerable importance as with this type of j ack there hasalways. been a; tendsaid rack and the load supported thereby toaccidentally lower and thus cause serious accidents.

By providing a single spring 40 in the manner shown and described bothof the pawls 28, 31 are retained in engagement with the rack teeth 15 atall times except-when the load is being lowered. v

When it is desired to lower the rack 14 the lifting pawl 28 is movedaway from the rack 14 so that its upper end is positioned within thenotch 36 of the holding pawl 32.

When this engagement between the pawls 28 and 32 has been effected adownward movement, of the lever 25 will force the holding pawl 32about'its pivot 31 and move the teeth of: said holding pawl 32 out ofengagement with the rack teeth 15.

The rack 14 will then be permitted to drop. as soon as theteeth of theholding pawl 32 have disengaged theteethon the rack 14.

After the load has been lowered the levermay be raised and in so doingthe upper end of the pawl 28 will be removed from the notch 36 and theholding pawl 32 and the spring 40 will then force both of the pawls 28',31 again. into engagement with the rack teeth ready for anotheroperation. 7

While the load is being supported either upon the head 16 or theprojection 17 the spring40 will retain the teeth of both of the pawls28, 31 in engagement with the rack teeth 15. I

This gives a double provision for safety asif anythingshould happen to,one pawl the other pawl would stillremain in engagement: anddprevent anyaccidental lowering of the, loa r Another advantage ofthe device is thatwith both the'lifting pawl 28 and the holding pawl 32 held in engagementby means of the spring 40, it-is possible to operate the jacket anyangle as neither pawl can-come out of en- 'Having thus described myinvention, I

claim: p

1 In a lifting jack, a supporting casing; a rack movable endwisetherein; a pivoted lever; a lifting pawl carried thereby; a holding pawlpivoted to said casing and provided with a shoulder adapted to beengaged by the end of said lifting pawl; and a spring on said casing theends ofwhich are adapted to spring away from each other andsimultaneously force both pawls into engagement with the teeth of saidrack duringthe separation of the ends of said spring.

2.. In a lifting jack, a supporting casing; a rack, movable endwisetherein; a pivoted le ver alifting pawl carried thereby; a holding pawlpivoted to said casingand provided end of said lifting pawl a laterallyextending handle integral with said lifting pawl by which it may bemoved about its pivot; and a spring on said casing for forcing bothpawls into engagement with the teeth of said rack.

3. In a lifting jack including a rack movable endwise and provided withteeth; a pivoted lifting pawl coacting with said teeth and movabletoimpart end movement to the rack; a pivoted holding pawl also coastingwith said teeth and having a notch to receive the end of the liftingpawl when disengaged from the rack teeth; and a single spring the endsof which are adapted to spring away from each other to force both pawlsinto engagement with the rack teeth when said pawls have been disengagedfrom each other.

4. In a lifting jack including a rack movable endwise and provided withteeth; a pivoted lifting pawl coacting with said teeth; a holding pawlalso coacting with said teeth; manually actuated means whereby thelifting pawl ma be disengaged from the rack teeth and Ice ed to theholding pawl; means for moving the lifting pawl while thus locked andcausing the holding pawl to be disengaged from said teeth; and a singlespring the ends of which are adapted to spring away from each other andsimultaneously force both pawls into engagement with the rack teeth assoon as released.

5. In a lifting jack, a supporting casing; a rack movable endwisetherein; a pivoted lever; a lifting pawl carried thereby; a holding pawlhaving oppositely disposed trunnions; cup-shaped members disposed in theside walls of said casing to receive said trunnions and form bearingstherefor; and a spring on said casing opposite said rack and the ends ofwhich are adapted to spring apart and normally retain both pawls inengagement with the teeth of said rack.

6. In a lifting jack, a supporting casing; a rack movable endwisetherein and provided with teeth; a pivoted lifting pawl coacting withsaid teeth; means for imparting movement to said pawl while engaged withthe rack to effect end movement of said rack; a pivoted holding pawlalso coasting with said teeth; projections on said pawls; a headed studwithin said casing opposite said rack; and a single spring coiled aboutsaid stud and having outwardly extendin ends adapted to spring apart andcoact wit lateral projections'on said pawls thereby retaining both pawlsin engagement with the rack teeth under normal conditions but permittingeach pawl to move independently of the other about its pivot.

7. In a lifting jack, a supporting casing; a rack movable endwisetherein; a pivoted lever; a lifting pawl carried thereby; a laterallyextending lug on said pawl; and a spring on said casing engaging saidlug and adapted to force said pawl into engagement rack teeth; manuallyactuated means where by said lifting pawl may be moved independently ofthe holding pawl; and means for holding said pawls in engagement witheach other under certain conditions.

Signed by me at Harvey, Illinois, this 28th day of March, 1928.

FRANK L. GORMLEY.

Ill)

